Wire rope making machine



oct. 17, 195o w. T. MaCREAD|E 2,526,141

WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE I Filed March 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct 17,1950 w. T. MaQCREADlE WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 18, 1949 Patented Oct. 17, 19

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frames, after which the strand passes back l inOsthe-f longitudinalcenter of the frames and outwardlytherefrom to suitable .guides on themain-frame These guides are disposed near thekperiphery or outer edge ofthe main frame andinv longitudinal alignment thereon so that .y thestrand passes in a direction parallel with the axis-of the frames, afterwhich it is led back into the longitudinal center of the frames andoutwardly therefrom to a wind-up bobbin. In this manner .alltwist orturning of the cable ceases sov that the-completed strand may be drawnoil! and wound upon a. suitable wind-up bobbin.

fMoreparticularly, the outer or main frame is indicatedat I0. This frameis of elongated rectangular shape having end members II and I2 eachprovided with outwardly extending longitudinally vdisposed hollowtrunnions I3 and Il mountedl for free rotation in fixed bearings I5.Thev second or intermediate frame or carriage is (indicated at I6 and islikewise of elongated rectangularshape and of a size to freely rotatewithin. themainfframe I0. The end bars of the intermediate frame areindicated at I1 and I8. The end bar I8 has afllxed thereto a centrally1ocatedtoutwardly projecting hollow trunnion I9 lvlwhich` rotativebearing ingan adjacent bar 20 ofthe mainframe and in the longitudinalaxis of thelatter. The opposite end bar I1 of the second orVintermediate frame has likewise alxed thereto anoutwardly projectingcentrally disposed hollowtrunnion 2| having rotative bearing in anadjacent bar 22 o! the main frame. From this construction it will beseen that the main or outer frame isfree to rotate upon a horizontalaxis in thebearings I5, while the second or intermediate ,i frame I6 is-free to rotate upon and within the mainframe and in the samelongitudinal axis thereof? I,

`'IflieAzhircl or innermost frame 23 is also of elongated. rectangularshape and is rotatably supt' ,portedglwitnln the intermediate frame ls.This frame is provided with ond bars 24. fromlone ofv which projects astub shaft 25 dis- 5 posedfin'the longitudinal axis of the frame tomilitanti s111190 me end therf' The opposite l .-iendsliiau"y 2l.v ofthe said innermost frame has rigdlyzi thereto an outwardly extendingcentrallyfdisposed hollow trunnion 21vpivotally supporting the said endin the adjacent cross bar 28 of the. intermediate frame I6. A

outer end of hollow trunnion I3 which I l supports the ymain frame I0has aiixed thereto a pulleyd over which passes a drive belt 30 leadmiany suitable source of power. Rotatably supported upon the trunnion I3is a gear 3| aiiixed against rotation by a pin 32 which anchors the gearto the bearing member I5. The gear 3| is in mesh with a gear 33 mountedupon shaft 34 having bearing in the end member II of the main frame.This shaft 34 has bearing also in the bar 22, and afnxed to this shaft34 is a gear 35 in mesh with a gear 38 ailixed to shaft 31 havlngbearing in the hollow shaft 2l. The inner end of shaft 31 has aixedthereto a gear 38 in mesh with gear 39 carried by stub shaft 49 havingbearing in adjacent bars of the intermediate frame I8. 'I'he shaft 48has secured thereto a gear 4| which is in mesh with an intermediate gear42 rotably carried by the second or intermediate frame I in the bar 28thereof, and the intermediate gear is in mesh with a spur gear 43 alxedto the outer end of a hollow trunnion 44 projecting from one end of ahaul-oi! drum frame 45 disposed longitudinally within the innermostframe and near one end thereof. This haul-off frame is disposed in thelongitudinal center of and is therefore coaxial with the other frames.The opposite end of the haul-off frame has projecting therefrom a hollowtrunnion 45 mounted for rotation in a cross bar 41 in the innermostframe. This hollow trunnion has affixed thereto a conventional twisterdie indicated at 48.

The haul-off frame carries a laterally disposed shaft 49 to which isafllxed the haul-off drum 50. One end of the shaft 49 has afllxedthereto a worm wheel 5I in mesh with a worm 52 carried by shaft 53mounted in a suitable bearing 54 on the haul-off frame. 'Ihe shaft 53has aflixed thereto a spur gear 55 in mesh with a gear 58 mountedloosely upon the hollow trunnion 44 and secured against rotation by apin-51 which anchors the said gear to the cross bar 24 of the innermostframe.

The hollow trunnion 2| which rotatably supports the intermediate frameI5 has afxed thereto a spur gear 58 which meshes with a gear 59 amxed toshaft 34.

The innermost frame 23 carries a desired number of rotatable supplybobbin frames 88, three being shown in the present instance. Theseframes are oi' elongated rectangular construction and are mounted withinthe innermost frame to rotate upon axes parallel to the axis of the saidinnermost frame. Each of the supply bobbin frames has a hollow trunnion5I at one end rotatably mounted in a cross bar 62 of the innermostframe, while the opposite end of each of the vsupply bobbin frames hasaffixed thereto an outwardly extending trunnion 63, each having amxedthereto a spur gear 84 in mesh with a master gear 85 vrotatably mountedin the intermediate frame and axially thereof. This master gear 55 isprovided with a hollow central shaft 55 to be rotatably received uponthe trunnion 25 ailixed to the innermost frame end 24. The hollowtrunnion 85 is provided with a spur gear 91 in mesh with a gear 88 amxedto shaft 89 mounted for rotation in cross members constituting a part ofthe intermediate frame I5. The shaft 59 has another gear 18 alxedthereto which is in mesh with a gear 1| secured to a hollow shaft 12rotatably mounted in the hollow trunnion I9 of the frame I5 and in thelongitudinal axis thereof. 'nie outer end of this shaft 12 has affixedthereto a gear 13 which is in mesh with a gear 14 affixed to a jackshaft carried by the main frame and rotatable upon an axis parallel withthe axis of the frames. The shaft 15 projects beyond the end of the mainframe III and has secured thereto 4 a gear 18 in mesh with a gear 11loosely mounted upon supporting trunnion I4 of the main frame. The gear11 is secured against rotation by a pin 18 which passes through the gearas well as through the bearing post I5.

The shaft 89 has also aiilxed thereto a gear 19 which meshes with a spurgear 19 secured to trunnion 25 of the innermost frame 23.

Each of the supply bobbin frames 98 is provided with a freely rotatablebobbin 8|, from each of which a wire 82 is led through the hollowtrunnions 6| in convergence in the twister die` 48, at which time theseveral wires are twkted together as a strand or cable. This strand,indicated at 83, passes over the haul-oil drum 50 and out through thehollow shaft 44. A guide roller 84 mounted in the axis of theintermediate frame I9 receives the strand, from whence the latter passeslaterally to a guide 85 disposed near the outer lateral edge of theintermediate frame I6. The strand then passes rearwardly of said frameand parallel to the axis thereof to a guide 8B also carried by theintermediate frame, from whence it passes back into the axis of theframes to the guide roller 81 carried by the intermediate frame. Thecable or strand then passes through the hollow trunnion 12 to a guidewheel 88 secured to the end member I2 of the main frame III and in thelongitudinal center thereof. From the guide roller 88 the cable passeslaterally of the main frame to a guide 89 carried by the said frame nearan outer lateral edge thereof, from whence the cable passes forwardly ofthe said frame to a guide 90 also carried by the main frame and inlongitudinal alignment with the guide 89. The cable then passes radiallyinward of the main frame to the guide roller 9| carried by the mainframe and disposed in the longitudinal center thereof, from whence thecable passes through the hollow trunnion I3 to a suitable or orthodoxwind-up bobbin, not shown.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that rotation of the pulley 29 bymeans of the belt 30 will cause the main frame I9 to rotate in onedirection while the second or intermediate frame I6 will rotate in theopposite direction. Due to the gearing arrangement, the speeds ofrotation of these frames will not be the same, and it will be understoodthat the gear ratios may be changed as desired to obtain the desiredrelative speeds of these frames. Rotation of the pulley 29, which isaffixed to the outer frame I9, will cause the latter to rotate. The gear33 travels in planetary action around fixed pinion 3|, causing shaft 34to rotate and through gears 59 and 59 causes the intermediate frame I8to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of theouter frame. A the same time, the gear 35 drives gear 35 which in turnrotates gear 38 which is in mesh with gear 39 carried by shaft 48. Thegear 4I upon shaft 49 drives intermediate gear 42 which is in mesh withgear 43, the latter being alxed to the hollow shaft 44 which connectswith the haulofl.' frame (viewed from the right end in Fig. 1) 45.Rotary movement in the latter, as well as the twister die 48 connectedthereto, is thus obtained, while at the same time the planetary movementof pinion 55 upon fixed gear 58 brings about driving action of thehaul-off drum through the instrumentality of the worm 52 and worm Due tothe manner in which it is mounted, it is obvious that the innermostframe 23 will remain stationary while the intermediate frame I5 rotatesabout it. The spur gears 54 secured to the stub shafts 63 of the supplybobbin frames travel around gear 65, thus bringing about rotativemovement of the supply bobbin frames.

As the wires 82 converge in the twister die 48 it is turned, forinstance, in clockwise direction, while the intermediate frame I6 isturning in the same direction but at a ratio, say, one to four. As thetwisted cable passes centrally or axially to the frame I6 it continuesto rotate in a clockwise direction. The cable or strand passes laterallyof the frame to the outer edges thereof, Where it is now turninganti-clockwise, whereupon it takes a rearward course to the opposite endof the frame, being led to the axial center thereof at said end. At thispoint the ratio is now one to two. As the strand then passes from thelongitudinal center of the frame outwardly to the guides at the lateraledges of the main frame, the latter turning counterclockwise, (viewedfrom the right in Fig. 1) it is making but a single turn. As the cablepasses forwardly of the main frame and out through the center of thepulley 29 it is not turning at all, and may be wound up on a suitablewindup drum. It will be understood that changes in the sizes of thevarious gears may be resorted to to bring about desired results withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

It is obvious, however, that by removing all twist or turn in the cableissuing from the machine, the wind-up operation is greatly simplified.

The machine here shown, and for example only, is provided with threesupply bobbins, but it will be understood that more may be added asrequired. The bobbins here shown are dis.- posed in radial arrangementwithin the bobbin supporting frame, but it will be understood that thisarrangement may be departed from should it be desired.

I claim:

1. In a wire rope making machine, a rotatably mounted main frame, asecond frame mounted coaxially within said main frame, a third framemounted coaxially within said second frame, means for rotating said mainand second frames in opposite directions and for maintaining said thirdframe stationary, supply bobbin frames and a twister die and haul-offframe all mounted for rotation in said third frame, bobbins rotatabiysupported in said bobbin frames, means for rotating said bobbin frames,and means for rotating said twister die and said haul-ofi frame in thesame direction as said second frame.

2. In a wire rope making machine, a rotatably 'mounted main frame, asecond frame within said main frame mounted for rotation coaxiallytherewith, a third frame mounted coaxially within said second frame,means for rotatingv said main and second frames in opposite directions,means for maintaining said third frame stationary, supply bobbin framesand atwister die and a haul-of! frame all mounted for rotation in saidthird frame, bobbins rotatably supported in said supply bobbin frames,means for rotating said supply bobbin frames, and means for rotatingsaid twister die and said haul-oil frame in the same direction as saidsecond frame.

3. In a wire rope making machine, a rotatably mounted main frame, asecond frame mounted for rotation axially within said main frame, athird frame axially disposed within said second frame, means forrotating said main and sec' ond Jframes in opposite directions and atdifferent speeds, means for maintaining said third frame stationary, atwister die and a haul-off rotatably mounted axially within said thirdframe, means for rotating said twister die and haul-oil?, supply .bobbinframes rotatably mounted in said third frame, means for rotating saidbobbin frames, bobbins loosely mounted in said bobbin frames, means forleading a strand laterally from the axis of said haul-oil, guides onsaid second frame eccentricallythereof and in longitudinal alignment toreceive said strand, means to lead said strand back into thelongitudinal axis of said main frame, guides in longitudinal alignmentwith one another on said main frame and disposed eccentrically of thelatter to receive said strand.. and means to lead said strand back intothe longitudinal axis of said main frame. I l

4. In a wire rope making machine, a rotatably mounted main frame, asecond frame rotatably mounted coaxially within said main frame, a thirdframe coaxially disposed and stationary within said second frame, meansfor rotating said main and second frames in directions opposite to oneanother, a twister die and a ha'uloff mounted for rotation coaxiallywithin said third frame, supply bobbin frames in said third frame, meansfor rotating said twister die and said haul-off, means for rotating saidsupply bobbin frames, guides to lead a strand from the axis of saidhaul-off in a direction laterally of said frames, guides arranged inlongitudinal alignment near the outer edges of said second frame to leadthe strand in a direction parallel to the axis of said frames, a guideon said second frame to lead the strand back into the longitudinal axis'of said frames, guides near the outer edges of said main frame inlongitudinal alignment thereof to lead the strand in a directionparallel to the axis of said frames, a guidel in the axis of said framesto lead the strand back into said axis, and means for rotating said mainand secondary frames.

5. In a wire rope making machine, an elongated main frame mounted forrotation on a horizontal axis, a second frame coaxially disposed withinsaid main frame, means for rotating said main and second frames inopposite directions and at different speeds, a third frame coaxiallysupported againstrotation within said second frame, a twister die and ahaul-off ar,- ranged coaxially within said third frame, means forrotating said die and haul-oil, supply bobbin frames rotatably mountedin said third frame, means for rotating said bobbin frames, bobbins insaid bobbin frames whose wires pass throughsaid twister die and ontosaid haul-off, a guide on said second frame to lead the strand axiallyfrom said third frame, guides on said second frame disposed near theouter edge thereof and in longitudinal alignment parallel to the axis ofsaid frames, a guide on said second frame to lead the strand back intothe axis thereof, guides on said main frame near the outer edges thereofand in longitudinal alignment parallel with the axes of the frames tolead said strand, and a guide in the longitudinal center of said mainframe to lead the strand from said machine.

WILLIAM T. MACCREADIE.

No references cited.

